Boss Considers Changes For Cup Replay

11 December 2017

David Artell will consider changes for our FA Cup replay against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow evening but says that any changes will be made on merit. The Alex boss says that we are in no position to make a number of changes to ‘rest’ players for our league game against Crawley Town on Saturday.

Crewe fought back from 3-0 down at Ewood Park in the original fixture but Blackburn only had themselves to blame after having two men sent-off for indiscipline.

Ahead of our FA Cup replay Artell said: “If they don’t pass the ball then they cannot expect to be in the team. I was disappointed with the way we played for the first hour at Cheltenham. We cannot start to play when we concede a goal. It doesn’t work like that. That’s not it.

“I’ve never said to any of our players that I want them to whack it up the pitch and too many of them whacked it. That is not the way we want to play. We will give them a short, sharp reminder about doing better on the ball.

“At the moment, every game for us is a Cup Final and tomorrow night against Blackburn is a Cup Final. We cannot afford to pick and choose. I am considering changes but that will be done on merit and who deserves their chance.

The boss added: “Our focus is on Blackburn. If we were to go out and lose 5-0 to them at home then that does not no-one any favours. We will be doing everything we can to win the game and I will pick the strongest team I can to give us the best chance of doing that.”